Queensland calling tourists

Visitors from Calcutta to Queensland have almost doubled since last year, tour operators and tourism officials from the Australian state said on Wednesday.

“The number of visitors from Calcutta is doubling every year,” said Daiza Hayashida, director of sales, Eastern Markets, Hamilton Island.

Hayashida is part of a team of representatives from Queensland who were in the city on Wednesday to promote the destination.

“More than 7,000 people travelled from Calcutta to Queensland between September 2012 and 2013,” said Ryna Sequeira, marketing manager, India, Tourism and Events Queensland, a statutory authority of the Queensland government.

Tour operators said Queensland is popular among honeymooners. “Flow of tourists to Australia is rising and it’s mainly honeymooners. One hindrance is the absence of direct flights from the city,” said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east), Travel Agents’ Federation of India.